Interstellar diplomacy with a dash of old skool colonial issues and Data character development

This episode is primarily about possible future aspects of space diplomacy. It entwines numerous threads into the main plot to fill it out and make for a very good/great epiosde.

The primariy strands of the plot and subplot fall into these threads: Picards delicate and difficult negotiations with a xenomorphic race called the Sheliak to provide more time to evacuate the sitation. Demonstrating how to pick the lock of an ball and change agreement and place it on the other party.

Data's continuing development and appreciation of human behaviour, specficially the art of command/leadership in persuading stubborn colonists to evacuate rather than fight.

The unwillingness of the colonists to surrender to governmental demands forced upon them and pander to an agreement made without their consent.

Overall, do not expect any combat, other than Data's demonstration in the main square of what the freedom fighters will be up against. The main stars of this episode are the story around Data and a potential love interest and Picard's struggle to get around a seemingly watertight diplomatic agreement. I found these strands to be rather interesting and hightlighted by some urgency provided by a decling countdown towards a diplomatic incident.

Better than the season premiere, but there have been better non-action oriented episodes in the previous two seasons.

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